Switch construction



M. SORENSEN Sept. 5, 1950 SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1946 F i G. 4

INVENTOR. IVA/F/US SORE/ SE/V I ATTORNEY &

Patented Sept. 5, 1950 S ATENT I SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Marius Sorensen, Astoria, N. Y.

* Application April 11, 1946, Se'rialNo. 661,215 r L,

"This invention relates to switch construction.

An obj'ect-of'this invention is to provide a switch: of the character described which shall be simple in construction and which will have a wiping or sliding movement to insure clean contacts at all times and which ismade of few and simple parts, easily assembled together. Another object'of'this invention is to provide an improvedmultiple-throw switch which operates as a toggle switch and which shall have one or-inore 'switchpositions and one neutral ponothr object of this invention is to' provide in, a switch of 'the' character described spring means to insure toggle action and improved meansior' adjusting the spring means.

Still another objectof this invention is to provide a'multi-throw switch which shallhave momentary contact when actuated and which is providedwith spring means to return the switch to neutral position when released. Yeta'further' object of this invention is to'provide asvv'itch "of the "character describedcomprisinga case formed" with crossing slots, a lever having la ball and socket connection with the casing I and being 'slidably movable into any branch of the'crossingslots, and switches aotuated' by the leveras itis' moved to its various selected positions.

' Yet a further object of this invention is to prov'iaea strong; rugged, durable and compact switchof the character described which mayop erate as asingle or multiple throw switch, and which may'be used with either single or double contacts, andwhich shallbe relatively inexpen sive to manufacturej and yet practical and efficient' to a high'degre'e in'use.

Other objects ofthis invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction; combinations of elements, and' arrangement of parts which'will be exemplifledinnthe'construction hereinafter described,

amorwhmn the scope of application will be indicated in the follow-ing claims. 1' l In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various'possible illustrative em; bodiments'"of'thisinvention;

' figwl 'is an "elevational cross-sectionalview of the switch embodying the invention;

2- isa cross sectional view taken on line 2 -2 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Fig. l with parts'broken-away and in cross-sec-.

- 20mins. (cram-517 socket member of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 4 is a elevation-a1 view of the switch embodying the invention and illustrating a modie c r i ns r Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of thespring and Referring now indetail to the drawing; |0 designates a switch embodying the invention attachedto any-suitable support Theswitch comprises a substantially L.-shaped bracket l2 provided witha vertical wall |3 contacting a surface of the support Wall l3 is provided with wingextensions |4 formedwith openings l5 receiving fastening means |6 for fastening the bracket ,|2 to support Bracket lZ is formed with-a plurality of counter-sunkopenings I] for the purpose hereinafter appearing. c,

Said bracket I2 furthermore comprises a horizontal bottom-wall l8 extending at right angles to. the vertical wall l3. Said bottom vwall is formed with a, plurality of counter-sunk openings |9 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Extending upwardly from the. center of the bottom wall H5 is acylindrical inverted, cupeshaped portion 20 comprising a cylindricalrwall 2| and a topwall 22.. The top wall.22 is formed with a central screw threaded opening 23 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

I Mounted on the bracket I2 is a casing 25. Said casing 2-5 is formed of a pair of substantially similar symmetrically disposed parts 26, having mutuall contacting faces 28. Each of the parts 26 has a topwall 29,'a'side wall 30,-a rear wall 3| {and aironjt walliil. The parts 26 when placed together, forma casing open at the bottom. Said parts 28 are formed with horizontal registerinlg through openings 31' to receive attaching bolts 38 for attachingsaid parts26 together. It Will be noted thatthe inner surfaces 28 of 'walls 29, 3| and 32 contact one another. The walls 3| may be formed with screw threaded openings 4|] registering with openings IT to receive attaching screws 4| which attach the casing to the bracket wall IS. The heads of the screws 4| are received in'the counter-sunk openings ll.

The parts 26' are furthermore formed in their end edges withscrew threaded openings 43 reg istering with the openings |9to receive fastening screws 4'4 which fasten-said parts to the bottom an inclined bottom 52 which is inclined upwardly and outwardly. Wall 29 of part 26 is also formed in the surface 28 with oppositely extending similar, symmetrical, shallow grooves 55 and 56 at right angles to the slot 52. The grooves 55 and 56 in the mating parts 26 together form oppositely extending slots and 58 which cross slots 5|. At the bottoms of the grooves 55, 56 are inclined upwardly and outwardly extending surfaces 60. It will now be understood that at the top of the casing are crossing slots communicating with a ball socket formed by the two half sockets 50.

Attached to the inner surface of wall-area pair of parallel spring switch blades or contacts 65, insulated from each other by suitable insulat-' ing strips 66. The lower ends ofthe spring blades or contacts are attached to the insulating strips and wall 30, and the free ends of said strips project upwardly. The blades 65 are centrally located withrespect to wall and hence are alignedwith slots 5|. At-the upper end of the strips 65 are usual contacts. Said-bladeshence togetherform a normally open switch which is closed in the manner hereinafter to bedescribed.

Attached to the-inner surfaces of walls 32 are spring blades or springs 68. The blades 68 are also insulated from one another by insulating strips GB-and attached to walls by means of rivets lit or in anyother suitable manner. The lower ends of the blades 68 are fixed to said wall 32and--the upper ends are-free. Said blades are furthermore aligned with slots 55.

- Attached to the inner surfaces of walls-3| ar apair of spring bladesTS; The, lower ends of said blades are. likewiseinsulated from: one. another by means of insulating strips-I4. The insulated blades are attached to said walls 3| by means of rivets 15. The blades-l3 are aligned withthe slots55; and theupper. ends thereof are free and together form a normally open switch. .Means is providedto selectivelyclose. switches E5,..68-.or 13., and toretain the selected switch in closed-condition, the arrangement being such furthermora. as will appears hereinafter, thatall of said.- switches may he left opentoiprovidea neutral condition. To this end. there ismounted ourcasing fi a. switch actuatin lever 8.0,- The lever .80. includes a ball portion .81 iournallcdin theballsocket 50. Extending upwardly from ball .80. is a stem..82,,proiectinsupwardly through thecro s g, slots in the op; o e c si a. At th upper n if-the stem a: isaball ha d e Egten ding downwardly from the ball portionlll is a stem 84 aligned with stem 82. At the lower end of stem 84 is'a ball head 85.." It will now be uriderstood'that' by grasping the handle 83 the lever may be moved'to bring stem 82 into either slots 55, 56, or either of the slots 5| Screwed within the screw threaded openin 23 in the top wall 22 of cup-shaped member 2|] is a screw 85. Attached to the upper end of the screw 86is'a' ball 81. Rotatably mounted on ball 8! is a socket member 88. Rotatably mounted on head 85 of the lever'is a similar symmetrically disposed socket member 89'.' Interposedbetween socket members 88, 89 is a coil compression spring 90. The socket members 88 and 89 each have a part-spherical surface engaging the balls 81 and 85, respectively, and-also have-guide portions orstems engaging within the-ends of coil spring 90. a a l Fig. l the lever is shown in position with head 85 closing switch 68. The stem 82-is in 'i slot55. Thev coil spring retains switch 86 closed.

' closing theselected switch.

If it is desired to close switch 65, the lever is first moved to vertical position and then swung to the right to cause the head to press the spring blades 65 together. If it is desired to close switch 13, the lever is moved into slot 56. If it is desired that all switches remain open, the stem 82 is moved into the slot 5| which is located above the switch 65, so that the head 85 moves towards the opposite side of the casing, which sidehas no switch. Anysuitable number of switches may be employed and theswitches may either comprise multiple spring blades as shown, or a single contact or multiple open or closed or combinations of open and closed contacts. It will be noted that there is a wiping and sliding movement of the contacts to insure a clean contact at all times, Both spring contacts are free to bend, and when they are closed they will bend and slide relative to one another to make a good switch closure.

It be notedgfurthermore thatzthe ass mbling' of thetwo blocksor parts 2i tosetherwith the bottom. bracket: provides a complete assem: bly, and the bottom bracket. encloses, the cavity in the casing and. supports he adjusting screw The switchesare, actuated by'toggle action. and the spring maintains the selected switch in closed position or retains the lever in neutral position. The lever may also be operated manually. or by mechanical, or electrical, means.

The lever furthermore may be-usedjas a. 001311 mon electrical ground if desired.

The screw 85 may, be turned for: adjusting the compressivecapacityofthe-spring.

In Figs. 4 andBthere is showna, switch spring Illa embodying the, invention and; illustrating, a modified construction. The switch Illa is similar to the switch Hiexcept that the compression spring allis replaced;by-a tension; spring 92. The tension spring 92Linterconnectsv a pair-oi socket members 93 which. rotatably receive portions of the heads 85 and 81. Spring 9 0. thus pullsthe lever back to neutral, vertical position .whenre; leasedafter it. has been moved to a position {or If desired. the adjustingscrew -86 may beomit ted. Furthermore, in constructionci device Nd, an additional switch maybe placedagainst the wall 30 which in the device llidoes not have a switch. Thus in device- Na. there may four switch closing positionsand a neutral, vertical po ition. In the device 10 thelever must he held in switch; closing position. as long as, ibis desired that; the tch he Q S Q 'P lease. Of, the lev r, handle will cause" the lever tobemovedtoneutralposition. g r

It will thus be seen h t. thereprovided a device inwhich the several object or thisinventionare1achieved and which is well to meetthe conditio s nfrractic l sa Asivarious possible iembodimentsmisht be made of the above inventionijand astvarious changes mi htbe made inem QdimQntcbQve set; forth, it. be understood that all, matt l-hg ein set forth or shown in the accompanrina drawincazis to be interpreted asillustrative and'not i a limitingsense. l.

Having thus describedmy. invention.- 1 claim as new and desire toasecureibylettetsfatent;

the other member having a front wall extending downwardly from the top wall of said memher, the front faces of the top and side walls of the first member contacting the rear faces of the top and side walls of said other member,

bolts passing through the side walls of said members for attaching said members together, a chamber bein formed below said top walls of said members, open at the bottom, a metallic bracket having abottom wall contactingthe lower edges of said front, rear, and side walls and attached thereto and closing said chamber, the meeting surfaces of the top walls of said members being formed with complementary hemispherical sockets and with complementary grooves forming crossing slots communicating with said sockets and having upwardly and outwardly inclined edges, a lever comprising aball disposed Within said sockets, an arm extendin from said ball and projecting upwardly through one of said slots, said sockets communicating with the saidchamber, a stem extending from said ball in the direction opposite to the arm and projecting down into said chamber, a partspherical head at the lower end of said stem,-said bottom wall being formed with an upwardly extending tubular wall, a top wall at the upper .end of the tubular wall formed with a vertical screw threaded through opening, said tubular wall forming an opening communicating with the under side of said bottom wall, a screw screwed through said screw threaded opening, the axis of said screw passing through the center of said ball, a part-spherical head fixed to the upper end of the screw and disposed within said chamber, a pair of universal sockets on said part-spherical heads, a coil compression spring interposed be=- tween said sockets, ahandle at the upper end of the lever arm, and switches within said chamher and disposed at three of the walls of said chamber and adapted to be actuated by the head at the lower end of the stem, said arm of the lever being movable to opposite ends of said crossing slots to bring the head at the lower end of the stem into position for actuating any one of the three switches or to a position where none of said switches are actuated.

2. In switch construction, in accordance with claim 1 in which the lower end of the screw projects downwardly into the opening formed by the tubular wall, and said screw has a slot at its lower end to facilitate adjusting said screw by means of a screw driver.

MARIUS SORENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 686,272 Dunbar Nov. 12, 1901 1,277,609 Law Sept. 3, 1918 1,426,193 Holmgren Aug. 15, 1922 1,778,676 Kempton Oct. 14, 1930 1,809,527 Pate June 9, 1931 1,829,037 Bobrofi Oct. 27, 1931 1,912,624 Douglas June 6, 1933 2,139,586 Husemoller Dec, 6, 1938 2,227,350 Kight Dec. 31, 1940 2,374,868 Krieger May 1, 1945 

